Game combining aspects of roulette and poker

ABSTRACT

A roulette game played with cards. A deck of cards is used that is used to generate random numbers for roulette-style wagering. Wagers can be made both on the next card as well as poker hands formed from cards dealt from the deck.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of provisional application 60/746,861, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. This application is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 11/218,751, filed on Sep. 2, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. This application is also a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 11/224,674, filed on Sep. 12, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. This application is also a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 11/224,686, filed on Sep. 12, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. This application is also a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 11/224,687, filed on Sep. 12, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. This application also is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 11/419,367, which claims benefit to provisional application 60/746,857, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present inventive concept relates to a wagering game, and more particularly to a game which combines aspects of roulette and poker into a single game.

2. Description of the Related Art

Roulette is typically played with a ball and a wheel. Bets are placed once and then a brand new game is started.

What is needed is a variation of roulette which will provide more excitement to players.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aspect of the present invention to provide exciting variations of blackjack that can be played in casinos.

The above aspects can be obtained by a method that includes (a) receiving next card wager(s) and two card poker hand wager(s) and three card poker hand wager(s) (b) revealing a first card; (c) resolving the next card wagers(s) using the first card; (d) receiving additional next card wager(s); (e) revealing a second card; (f) resolving the additional next card wager(s) using the second card; (g) resolving the two card poker hand wagers using the first card and the second card; (h) receiving more next card wager(s); (i) revealing a third card; (j) resolving the more next card wager(s) using the third card; and (k) resolving the three card poker hand wagers using the first card and the second card and the third card.

The above methods can also be obtained by a method that includes (a) providing a roulette wheel with at least 2 balls and slots associated with respective card values; (b) receiving poker hand wagers; (c) spinning the roulette wheel such that each of the balls stops in random slots; (d) forming a poker hand with the respective card values for each of the slots; and (e) resolving the poker hand wagers using the poker hand.

The above methods can also be obtained by a method that includes (a) dealing two or more players cards; (b) dealing two or more dealers cards; (c) receiving a one card player vs. dealer wager; (d) receiving a two card player vs. dealer wager; (e) revealing a first player's card and a first dealer's card; (f) resolving the one card player vs. dealer wager by determining whether the player, or the dealer, has a better one card hand; and (g) resolving the two card player vs. dealer wager by determining whether the player, or the dealer, has a better two card hand.

These together with other aspects and advantages which will be subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of implementing the invention in which all wagers can be placed at any time, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of implementing the invention in which poker wagers are made initially and next card wagers can be placed at any time, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a drawing of a sample roulette poker table layout, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of implementing the invention which uses variable payouts, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a method of playing roulette poker game using a dealer, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a drawing of a sample roulette poker table layout using a dealer after a completed game, according to an embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

The present general inventive concept relates to a method, system, and computer readable storage which allows a casino to allow players to play a variation of roulette using cards instead of a wheel.

A special deck of cards can be used which has the values 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A, for each of four suits (hearts, spades, clubs, diamonds). Alternatively, any special deck of cards can be used (e.g. Spanish deck), a deck with one or more jokers, or a regular deck can be used. Typically, one deck can be used although multiple decks can be used as well.

A player can make a “next card” wager, which is a wager on which card will actually be turned over next. For example, a player may bet that a 3 of spades will be turned over next. The player may also bet on a particular color, suit, etc.

A player can also make a poker hand wager, which is a wager on whether a particular poker hand will be formed. For example, a player can bet that a flush can be formed. Poker wagers can be divided into poker wagers comprising a certain number of cards. For example, a 2 card poker wager can be made which comprises two cards, with possible hands such as pair of aces, any other pair, etc. A 3 card poker wager can be made which comprises three cards, with possible hands such as two of a kind, three of a kind, flush, straight, straight flush, etc.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of implementing the invention in which all wagers can be placed at any time, according to an embodiment.

The method can start with operation 100, wherein the house receives any and all wagers from the player(s). This can include next card wagers and poker hand wagers.

The method can then proceed to operation 102, wherein the house deals (and/or reveals) a next card (e.g. operation 102 deals the first card, then upon returning to operation 102, the second card is dealt, etc.)

Form operation 102, the method proceeds to operation 104, which resolves any wagers that are fully determined. For example, any next card wagers are resolved once the next card is dealt. Any 3 card poker hand wagers are resolved once three cards are dealt, etc.

From operation 104, the method can proceed to operation 106, which determines whether all cards are dealt. If all cards are not dealt, then the method can return to operation 100, which receives additional wagers.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of implementing the invention in which poker wagers are made initially and next card wagers can be placed at any time, according to an embodiment.

The method begins with operation 200, which receives any next card wager(s) and poker wager(s). A next card wager is a wager on what the next card will be. The wager can be placed on a particular card (e.g. 10 spades), color of the next card, suit, etc. Of course the payouts on the wagers will be dependent upon the odds of winning (e.g. betting that the next card will be a particular color will be easier (and thus have a relatively lower payout) than a bet that the next card will be a particular card (e.g. eight diamonds). The player can make as many wager(s) as he/she likes.

The method can proceed to operation 202, which deals (or reveals) the first card face up.

The method can proceed to operation 204, which resolves any next card wager(s).

The method can proceed to operation 206, which receives any additional next card wager(s).

The method can proceed to operation 208, which deals (reveals) the next card.

From operation 208, the method can proceed to operation 210, which determines whether all cards have been revealed. If all cards have not been revealed, then the method returns to operation 206 which receives any additional next card wager(s).

If the determination in operation 210 determines that all cards have been revealed, then the method proceeds to operation 212, which resolves all next card wagers and poker wagers.

FIG. 3 is a drawing of a sample roulette poker table layout, according to an embodiment.

Next card wagers (or roulette wagers) 300 comprises wagers on what the next card will be and can include wagers on individual cards (rows 1-9 from top), what the suit of the next card will be (row 10), and what the color of the next card will be (row 11), and whether the next card will be a joker (row 11) (this of course assumes the deck contains a joker). Of course, each of these wagers has a payout dependent upon the probability of the occurrence. These wagers can be resolved upon revealing of a single card.

Poker wagers 302 comprise several different 2 card bets, several different 3 card bets, several different 4 card bets, and several different 5 card bets. The two card bets are in the first column and can include a suited pair, a high pair (e.g. jacks, queens, kings, aces), a low pair (sixes, sevens, or eights), any other pair (twos through fives and nines through tens), a suited blackjack, and a non-suited blackjack. The three card poker wagers are in the second column and can include a straight flush, a flush or better, a straight, a three of a kind, two pair, and a high pair (JJ, QQ, KK or AA). The four card poker wagers are in the third column and can include a straight flush (or better), a flush or better, a straight, a three of a kind, two pairs, and a high pair (JJ, QQ, KK, or AA). The five card poker wagers are in the fourth column and can include a straight flush (or better), a flush or better, a straight, a three of a kind, two pairs, and a high pair (JJ, QQ, KK, or AA). When a player makes a poker wager he can make it on any wager he or she chooses. Thus, a player can choose how many cards of a poker hand he/she wishes the wager to involve, and which particular hand or hands he/she wishes those cards to form. For example, the player can wager on a three card three of a kind (which according to FIG. III pays 9:1) or a five card three of a kind (which according to FIG. III pays 3:1). Of course the latter pays less because it is easier to get a five card three of a kind than a three card three of a kind. The poker ranks described herein are the same as what is well known in the art (straight, flush, etc.)

An example game will now be presented. All five cards are dealt face down. The player places $2 next card wager on black and a $2 next card wager on the ten of spades. The player also places four wagers: $1 on a two card bet (any pair), $1 on a two card bet (blackjack); $1 on a three card bet (straight); $1 on a four card bet (straight); and $1 on a five card bet (three of a kind). The first card is turned over, it is a king of spades (black). Thus, the player wins $2 on the wager on black (this can pay even money) and the player loses the $2 next card wager (since the player bet on the ten of spades). The player now makes a new next card wager on red. In this embodiment using fixed payouts, the player cannot make any further two card/three card/four card/or five card bets (because the player has already seen the first card and could capitalize on this knowledge). The player can make as many next card wager(s) as he/she wishes. The dealer reveals the second card, which is an ace of clubs. The player loses his next card wager (since the player was hoping the card would be a red card). The player loses the two card any pair wager (since the two cards revealed do not comprise a pair). The player wins the two card blackjack wager (since the two cards revealed comprise a blackjack). The player declines to make any next wagers this time. The dealer now reveals the third card, which is a three of clubs. The player loses the three card bet (straight) since the three cards revealed do not comprise a straight. The player declines to make a next card wager. The dealer now reveals the fourth card, which is a three of hearts. The player loses the four card bet (straight) since the cards revealed do not comprise a straight. The player declines to make a next card wager. The dealer reveals the fifth card which is a three of diamonds. The player wins the five card bet (three of a kind) since out of the five cards revealed, a three of a kind (three threes) exists. Thus, the player is paid 3:1 (or whatever the respective payout is) on the five card three of a kind bet. Now the game is over, the cards are removed, (optionally) reshuffled, and new bets can be placed and a new game can begin.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of implementing the invention which uses variable payouts, according to an embodiment.

Note that FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 2, but note that in operation 408, additional poker wagers can be received as well even after the first card has been revealed (in operation 402). This is because in operation 404, payouts are revised after each card is revealed to reflect the cards already revealed. Thus, for example, if two cards are dealt (revealed) and they comprise a pair, a bet on a three of a kind would have a lower payout because making this hand would typically be easier than if the first two cards were not a pair.

Table I illustrates sample dynamic payouts for hands after initial card(s) are revealed. This table is based on eight decks being used, although of course any amount of decks can be used. For example, if the first card revealed is a 6 through A, then if the next card creates a suited pair then this pays 40 (e.g. the first card is a 8 of spades, the player bets $1 on a suited pair, and the second card is also an 8 of spades, the player is paid 40 chips). As a further example, if the first two cards are any pair, and the player wagers that the third card will make a three of a kind, and this happens (e.g. the first two cards are a pair of deuces, and the third card is also a deuce), then the player wins 9 times his or her original bet. TABLE I House Pays Wins Losses EV Edge 2 Card Hands Suited pair (first card is 6-A) 40 7 296 −0.0528 5.28% High Pair, JJ-AA (first card is J-A) 8 31 272 −0.0792 7.92% Low Pair, 66-99 (first card is 6-9) 8 31 272 −0.0792 7.92% Any Pair, 66-AA (first card is 6-A) 8 31 272 −0.0792 7.92% Suited Blackjack (first card is Ace) 8 32 271 −0.0495 4.95% Blackjack (first card is Ace) 1 128 175 −0.1551 15.51% 3 Card Hands Notes Straight Flush or Better (first 2 cards are 17 16 286 −0.0464 4.64% This includes Straight Flush 78-QK suited) only This includes Flush only Flush or Better (first 2 cards are same 3 70 232 −0.0728 7.28% suit) Straight (first 2 cards are 78-QK) 3 64 238 −0.1523 15.23% [Pay of 8 = House Edge Three of a Kind (first 2 cards are a pair) 9 30 272 −0.0066 0.66% 10.6%] [Pay of 8 = House Edge Two Pairs (first 2 cards are a pair) 9 30 272 −0.0066 0.66% 10.6%] High Pair (first 2 cards are 2 different 3 62 240 −0.1788 17.88% high cards e.g. QK) 4 Card Hands Notes Straight Flush or Better (first 3 cards are 17 16 285 −0.0432 4.32% This includes Straight Flush 789-JQK suited) only This includes Flush, 4 of a Flush or Better (first 3 cards are same 3 69 232 −0.0831 8.31% Kind, and Straight Flush suit) Straight (first 3 cards are 789-JQK) 3 64 237 −0.1495 14.95% Three of Kind, must make a 3 of a kind 8 30 271 −0.1030 10.30% using the 4th card (first 3 cards contain a pair e.g. Joker-8-8) Notes: Eg of winning hands: Two Pairs (first 3 cards contain a pair + non 3 61 240 −0.1894 18.94% 7788, 8777 Joker e.g. 7-7-8) High Pair (first 3 cards are 3 different 2 93 208 −0.0731 7.31% high cards e.g. JKA) 5 Card Hands Notes Straight Flush or Better (first 4 cards are 9 28 272 −0.0667 6.67% This also includes 5 of a Kind 4 of a Kind or 789T-TJQK suited) and Royal Flush. Odds are based off of Straight Flush or 5 of a Kind. This includes Flush, Full Flush or Better (first 4 cards are same 3 68 232 −0.0933 9.33% House, Four of a Kind, and the suit or first 4 cards are 2 pairs) hands above. Odds based off of Flush or Full House. Straight (first 4 cards are 789T-TJQK) 3 64 236 −0.1467 14.67% Three of a Kind, must make a 3 of a kind 3 60 240 −0.2000 20.00% using the 5th card (first 4 cards are two pairs e.g. JJKK) Notes: Eg of winnings hands: Two Pairs, must make 2 pairs using the 2 92 208 −0.0800 8.00% 7-7-8-9-9, 7-7-8-9-7 5th card (first 4 cards contain 1 pair + 2 singletons e.g. 7-7-8-9) High Pair, must make high pair using the 1 124 176 −0.1733 17.33% 5th card (first 4 cards are JQKA)

In a further embodiment of the inventive concept, a dealer's hand can be used as well as part of the game.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a method of playing roulette poker game using a dealer, according to an embodiment.

The method can start with operation 500, which deals a player and a dealer each 5 cards, face down. Of course, any other number of cards can be used.

The method continues to operation 502, which receives poker bets.

From operation 502, the method proceeds to operation 504, which receives a roulette bet on the next card to be revealed. This bet can be optional.

The method proceeds to operation 506, which reveals a successive (next) card of the player, and resolves any outstanding roulette bet.

From operation 506, the method can proceed to operation 508, which determines whether all player's cards are revealed. If all the player's cards have not yet been revealed, then the method can return to operation 504.

If the determination in operation 508 determines that all the player's cards have been revealed, then the method can proceed to operation 510 which receives a roulette bet on a successive dealer's card to be revealed. This bet can be optional.

From operation 510, the method proceeds to operation 512, which reveals a successive dealer's card, and resolves any outstanding roulette bet.

From operation 512, the method proceeds to operation 514, which resolves a poker bet for the number of cards revealed. For example, if only one dealer's card is revealed, then the one card poker bet is resolved, using the revealed dealer's card and the corresponding (meaning opposite to the dealer's card) player's card. If two dealer's cards are revealed, then a two card poker bet can be resolved, using the two revealed dealer's cards and the corresponding player's cards. A poker bet can compare a dealer's hand to a player's hand to determine the best hand. Also, a poker bet can be non-competitive and just be based on cards in the player's hand, the cards in the dealer's hand, or cards in both hands.

From operation 514, the method proceeds to operation 516, which determines whether all of the dealer's cards are revealed. If all of the dealer's cards have not yet been revealed, then the method returns to operation 510.

If all of the dealer's cards have been revealed, then the method can proceed to operation 518, which ends the game.

An example of the game will now be presented in order to illustrate how it operates. Of course, this is merely one example and any other parameters (number of cards, type of deck, bets made, etc.) can be used as well.

FIG. 6 is a drawing of a sample roulette poker table layout using a dealer after a completed game, according to an embodiment.

While all of the cards in FIG. 6 are dealt face up (which would be the state at the end of the game), for purposes of this example consider that all of the cards are face down and will be revealed in turn.

A player places a one card poker hand bet, a two card poker hand bet, a three card poker hand bet, a four card poker hand bet, and a five card poker hand bet, and a first roulette bet.

The first player's card is revealed (ten clubs). The first roulette bet is resolved using the first player's card. The player may then place a second roulette bet. The second player's card is then revealed (ace diamonds). The second roulette bet is then resolved using the second player's card. The player may then place a third roulette bet. The third player's card is then revealed (three hearts), and the third roulette bet is then resolved using the third player's card. The player may then place a fourth roulette bet. The fourth player's card is then revealed (king spades), and the fourth roulette bet is then resolved. The player may then place a fifth roulette bet. The fifth player's card is then revealed (ace spades), and the fifth roulette bet is then resolved.

The player can now make a sixth roulette bet. The first dealer's card is then revealed (four diamonds). The sixth roulette bet is now resolved using the first dealer's card. The one card poker hand bet is now resolved. This poker bet can be a high card bet, in which case the player would win since the 10 is higher than the four.

The player can now make a seventh roulette bet. The second dealer's card is then revealed (four clubs). The seventh roulette bet is now resolved using the second dealer's card. The two card poker hand bet is now resolved. In this case, the two card poker hand is the best blackjack hand, in which the player has an ace-ten (blackjack) vs. the dealer's four/four (total of eight), thus the player wins the two card poker hand.

The player can now make an eighth roulette bet. The third dealer's card is now revealed (two spades). The eighth roulette bet is now resolved using the third dealer's card. The three card poker hand bet is now resolved. In this case the player's three card poker hand is (ten clubs, ace diamonds, three hearts), and the dealer's three card poker hand is (four diamonds, four clubs, two spades). Thus, the dealer has a pair and the player has an ace high, thus the dealer wins the three card poker hand bet (thus the player's wager is taken off the table).

The player can now make a ninth roulette bet. The fourth dealer's card is now revealed (jack hearts). The ninth roulette bet is now resolved using the fourth dealer's card. The four card poker hand bet is now resolved. In this case, the four card poker bet is the lowest three cards out of four. Thus, in the case of the player, the lowest three cards are the ten clubs, three hearts, king spades. The lowest three dealer's cards are four diamonds, jack hearts, two spades. Note that the four clubs is not included in the lowest hand because this would create a pair, which would not be the lowest hand. The lowest hand out of these two hands wins. The dealer has the lowest hand, as the dealer's highest card (jack hearts) is lower than the player's highest card (kind spades). Generally, the winner of the lowest three our of four is determined by taking the three cards which form the lowest hand out of the four, then comparing the player's three card hand and the dealer's three card hand to determine which hand is lowest (using standard poker ranks).

The player can now make a tenth roulette bet. The fifth and last dealer's card is now revealed (three diamonds). The tenth roulette bet can now be resolve using the fifth dealer's card (three diamonds). The five card poker bet can now be resolved. In this example, the best five card poker hand wins. Thus, the player has a pair of aces, and the dealer has a pair of fours. Thus, the player wins the five card poker hand wager.

The game is now over. A total of fifteen bets have been placed and resolved (10 roulette bets and 5 poker hand bets). Although the roulette bets may be optional at the option of the house (or the player). In other words, the house may require a roulette bet each time a card is revealed, or the house may not require it and it would be optional to the player whether he or she wants to place one. The same can be said for the poker bets, they may be optional at the option of the house (or the player).

Other poker bets can be bet on also, such as whether each respective player's card will match the dealer's card. Also poker hands can be bet on that do not compete the player against the dealer. For example, a player can bet whether the player's (or dealers) first two cards will comprise a blackjack.

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

1. A method to resolve wagers placed by a player, the method comprising: receiving next card wager(s) and two card poker hand wager(s) and three card poker hand wager(s) revealing a first card; resolving the next card wagers(s) using the first card; receiving additional next card wager(s); revealing a second card; resolving the additional next card wager(s) using the second card; resolving the two card poker hand wagers using the first card and the second card; receiving more next card wager(s); revealing a third card; resolving the more next card wager(s) using the third card; and resolving the three card poker hand wagers using the first card and the second card and the third card.
 2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the deck comprises cards from six to ace of four different suits.
 3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising revising payouts for poker wagers after each card is revealed, and displaying the revised payouts.
 4. A method of placing wagers, the method comprising: providing a roulette wheel with at least 2 balls and slots associated with respective card values; receiving poker hand wagers; spinning the roulette wheel such that each of the balls stops in random slots; forming a poker hand with the respective card values for each of the slots; and resolving the poker hand wagers using the poker hand.
 5. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein there are 5 balls.
 6. A method to play a wager game, the method comprising: dealing two or more players cards; dealing two or more dealers cards; receiving a one card player vs. dealer wager; receiving a two card player vs. dealer wager; revealing a first player's card and a first dealer's card; resolving the one card player vs. dealer wager by determining whether the player, or the dealer, has a better one card hand; and resolving the two card player vs. dealer wager by determining whether the player, or the dealer, has a better two card hand.
 7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein five player cards are dealt and five dealer cards are dealt.
 8. A method as recited in claim 6, further comprising receiving next card wager(s) before each card is revealed. 